Former Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has refused to tour Pakistan for the upcoming T20I series, Daily Jang reported on Friday.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has reportedly informed Bangladesh Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin of his decision to withdraw from the tour.
"He has informed us of his unavailability over telephone," Abedin is quoted as saying by the Urdu daily.
"We now await a written request [of absence] from him. As soon as that happens, we will drop him."
Rahim’s withdrawal is the first major blow to Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) hopes of hosting a full-strength Bangladeshi side.
The board had been able to convince their Bangladeshi counterparts to tour after protracted negotiations.
Bangladesh and Pakistan will play in the latter’s backyard over three legs, each representing the three major formats. The first leg featuring the T20I series starts Jan 24.
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